Wall structure of building blocks



March 27, 1951 J.B. BOYD WALL STRUCTURE OF BUILDING BLOCKS Filed April 21, 1948 dohw 5' 50 YD 5 fimm/ Gttorneg Patented Mar. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALL STRUCTURE OF BUILDING BLOCK S John B. Boyd, West Los Angeles, Calif Application A ril 21, 194$,Serial N0. 22,451

2 Claims. (01; 72--42) This invention relates to a building element and deals more particularly with a brick or block for embodiment in walls and other faces of buildings, etc.

An object of the present invention is to provide a building block that is provided with an ornamental facing along one or more of its exposed edges and which is adapted to enhance the appearance of a wall in which the same is embodied.

Another object of the invention is to provide a metal 'faced block that is suitable for both outside and inside application to provide attractiveness to walls, fire places, etc.

Another object of the invention is to provide a block as indicated that embodies mortar or grouting grooves that are so formed to effect structural keying of suchblocks to each other and/or to other elements of a structure without exposing said mortar or grouting.

My invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the following description merely describes one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary face view of a wall embodying decorative blocks according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view as taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a modified form of block.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged broken sectional View of the blocks shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views of modifications.

The blocks I0 that are illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 each comprise a body H and metal facings l2 on opposite edges thereof. The block l0 shown in Fig. 3 comprises a body II, a metal facing 12 on one edge and a similar facing l3 on one end. It will be understood that only one end or edge of the block or all of them, or three of them may be faced.

The block body H may be made of cement, magnesite, clay, etc., and in the present instance,

2 is formed with upper and lower longitudinal grooves [4 to receive cement or mortar. The number and size of said grooves will vary in accordance with the width of the block body.

The facing l2 or [3 is formed of sheet metal such asbrass, copper, corrosion-resistant steel, etc., and is formedto have a face I5 and inturned flanges [6 that form a channel fitting over the edge or end of ablock body, as the case may be.

As shown in Fig. 4 the flangesv l6 may be directed toward each other to clinch over the body and thereby obviate separation of the body and the facing. As shown in Fig. 5, the flanges [6 may, at their edges, be additionally bent toward each other as at I! to be embedded in thebody, and as in Fig. 6, said ends 11 may be bent to be parallel to the face I5. Thus, by using any of the forms shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, assurance is had that the facings will retain their position on the body.

The blocks are readily made up by placing the facings in a mold in which such blocks are formed and conventionally pouring the body material therein to effectively bond the body and facings after the former has set.

The blocks thus provided may be laid in courses in the manner of blocks and bricks. They are set, however, face-to-face on each other to eliminate any mortar seam. Figs. 1 and 2 show a particular use for the blocks as decorative means for formin a wall of glass blocks and the same will serve to exemplify the variety of uses for the present block. As shown, a course of blocks I0 is laid in end abutment, a glass block I8 is set centrally on and in contact with each block H] of said course, with a vertically disposed block l0 between and in contact with adjacent glass blocks. Mortar or cement IS in the grooves I4 key the glass blocks in place without such material being 'visible from the outside. Optionally, reinforcement members 20 may be used to strengthen the construction.

The blocks H], or rather the facings thereof frame each glass block and replace the usual unsightly cement seams normally employed in this connection. The points of jointure of the blocks [0 may be concealed as by applying a rosette or the like 21 to cover the same. It will be noted that the joint-concealing rosette shown is circular in form and that the diameter of the same is substantially equal to the dimension between the diagonally opposite corners of the glass blocks 18 of alternately adjacent courses. Thus, the joints between the ends of the longer blocks l and the joints between the ends of the shorter blocks l0 and the opposite faces of said longer blocks, are covered by the rosette, whereas no portion of the blocks 8 is covered thereby, as seen at the left side of Fig. 1.

It will be understood that the faces 15 may be variously finished by polishing, scoring, hammering the same to provide a variety of finishes adapted for a multiplicity of uses. The blocks l0 may vary in size and shape as can be well understood. It will be further apparent that the metal facings impart structural strength to the blocks and to a wall embodying them and also protect the edge corners of the body from chipping, crumbling, etc. Consequently, the body of the blocks may be made of economical material since the same is protected by the facings from erosion as caused by wear and weather.

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. 1, therefore, do not wish to restrict myself to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A wall structure comprising horizontal courses of alternate glass and metal-faced blocks, said blocks being the same height and the glass blocks being substantially wider than the metalfaced blocks, intermediate horizontal courses alternating with the first courses and comprising elongated metal-faced blocks arranged in direct end-to-end abutment, the length of each latter block being equal to the sum of the widths of a glass block and a metal-faced block of the first courses, the elongated blocks being centered with respect to the glass blocks to locate the joints formed by the abutting ends thereof directly beneath and centered with respect to the metalcovered blocks of the first courses, and decorative elements applied over said joints to cover and conceal the same, said latter elements being of such size as to also cover and conceal the joints formed between the ends of the metal-faced blocks of the first courses and the opposite sides of the metal-faced blocks of the intermediate courses.

2. A Wall structure according to claim 1: said decorative elements being circular and having a diameter substantially equal to the dimension between the diagonally opposite corners of the glass blocks of alternately adjacent courses.

JOHN B. BQYD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 106,749 Weathers Aug. 23, 1870 180,794 Schaffer Aug. 8, 1876 416,428 Sinclair Dec. 3, 1889 703,760 Brown July 1, 1902 773,404 May Oct. 25, 1904 891,495 Loy June 23, 1908 1,898,864 Young Feb. 21, 1933 1,953,287 Bemis Apr. 3, 1934 2,141,000 I-Iohl Dec. 20, 1938 2,346,170 Kalkusch Apr. 11, 1944 

